This is a problem. You see, we here at Vandaleer.com are encouraging all mountaineers, who are always free, to “rise up” and shout from the mountaintops the greatness of West Virginia, when all the while we are feeling and thinking this:

We are tired of being known for 49th ranked.

We are tired of being called hillbillies.

We can’t stand it when you call us stupid.

We are sick of feeling inferior.

How can we accomplish our mission if the rest of the world doesn’t even know what we are all hollering about?

Before we answer that question, let’s try and figure out how we got to this point.

Maybe it’s because we seceded from a country that never existed (the Confederacy)?

Maybe it’s because we felt bad for leaving Virginia and we wanted to give her a tip of the cap on the way out?

Maybe it’s because we chose a directional-based name whose counterpart, unlike all others in the United States (see North and South Carolina), does not have direction in front of its name?

Maybe it’s because, with all due respect John Denver, “Country Roads” references the Shenandoah River, which mostly exists in Virginia?

Maybe it’s just the name?

Here were the proposed names for our great state that did not include the word “Virginia”:

Allegheny

Augusta

Columbia

Vandalia

Instead of choosing West Virginia, instead, let’s say, we chose Vandalia – would we be 49th?

It doesn’t matter. We are West Virginia and we are at the unique intersection of supreme pride and an incredible lack of self esteem.

It’s time to stand up. It’s time to be heard. The next time someone asks you where you are from – answer: West Virginia, it’s a state.

I have always felt sorry for the people outside of West Virginia who do not know we are a state. In West Virginia we have a great educational system. We are taught at an early age that there are 50 states. There is not a single one that could be named that I would not know is a state. I can also name all 50. So to those who do not know West Virginia is a state I am sorry that your state’s educational system failed you. You were not taught history or geography of our great nation. Perhaps you should sue your state for not teaching these subjects to you. You have my sympathies.